Iraq, the war and how we got it wrong

    IAN McPHEDRAN - DEFENCE WRITER
    News Limited Network
    March 16, 2013

    Analysis: Ian McPhedran counts the cost of the Iraq War



FORMER prime minister John Howard has admitted that "mistakes" were made by the US-led coalition in Iraq, but he stands by his decision a decade ago to join friend George W Bush in invading the oil-rich nation.     :(

And his foreign affairs minister at the time, Alexander Downer, has revealed the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, virtually blamed former Australian diplomat and chief weapons inspector Richard Butler for the war.

A decade on from the invasion of Iraq by the US-led coalition of the willing and Australian special-forces troops and RAAF fighter jets in March 2003, Mr Howard said he had not changed his mind because Iraq was better off without Saddam Hussein.

"Post invasion, mistakes were made, most particularly the dismantling of the Iraqi Army," Mr Howard said.

He said most people believed that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and then Labor spokesman Kevin Rudd had even stated that it was "empirical fact".

Mr Howard denied intelligence on the matter was manufactured.

He also said the Iraq experience could have been one of the catalysts for the so-called Arab Spring.

Analysis: Was the Iraq War worth it?.

However, former Defence chief and Iraq war opponent General Peter Gration said the war was "immoral, illegal and unnecessary".     ;)

He said it was also one of the dumbest strategic decisions in Australian history.     :o    

"The civilian casualties and damage have been enormous and it was the first time in history that Australia had taken offensive action against a country that had done nothing to us," General Gration said.

"We need some way to ensure that this never happens again."     ;)

Mr Downer this week said the UN had been writing reports about Iraq's weapons stockpile for years.

He said Mr Annan had said to him that he could not believe that former head of the UN weapons inspection team, Mr Butler, had been made Governor of Tasmania.

"Annan said to me, `If not for Richard Butler there would not have been an Iraq War'," Mr Downer said.

Mr Butler denied the claim.

"The substance of what Annan is alleged to have said is incorrect," he said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national-news/iraq-the-war-and-how-we-got-it-wrong/story-fncynjr2-1226598566259#ixzz2Ne9QqU7j

CFMEU braces for next chapter in ICAC probe

By Nonee Walsh

Updated 27 minutes ago


Related Story: MPs to investigate if Obeid documents withheld

Related Story: Moves for ALP expulsion of Obeid, Macdonald

Related Story: Mining magnate takes action against ICAC


Map: Sydney 2000
The coal miners' union is bracing itself for a damaging series of revelations from an anti-corruption inquiry involving a well-respected former leader.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption's (ICAC) probe into the granting of mining licences to entities connected to the family of New South Wales Labor Party powerbroker Eddie Obeid has already damaged the ALP.

Now the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is bracing itself for a reputational hit in the next part of the inquiry, which is due to begin on Monday.

The CFMEU's former national secretary, John Maitland, is staying out of the public eye at the moment and has cancelled today's public auction of a $1.6 million farm near Kempsey on the NSW north coast.

However the former union veteran still has $5-million-worth of property on the market, including a $3 million property in Victoria owned through his family company, Jonca.

Mr Maitland bought the farms after he became a multi-millionaire just four years after retiring as CFMEU head.

That wealth came on the back of an investment of less than $200,000 and a mining licence issued by his friend, the then state mining minister, Ian Macdonald.

It was the same year Mr Maitland became a Member of the Order of Australia, in recognition of his services to international and Australian industrial relations.

Now, the unravelling of the story of the rise from union man to rich mining investor threatens to drag in his former union colleagues.

Doyles Creek licence

The ABC understands a number of mining union officials have been called to give evidence to the ICAC about the Doyles Creek coal exploration licence, and the associated $10 million share price windfall to Mr Maitland.

Just two months after he left the union Mr Maitland began buying shares in a company called Nucoal. A $1 shelf company was also established, which became Doyles Creek Mining.

Among Mr Maitland's plans was for an operation to train people to work in underground mines.

Some time


THIS IS FOR YOU  .  CROOK  ;)

What has thay got to do with the illegal Iraq war?.     :(   

wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 7:45am:

What has thay got to do with the illegal Iraq war?.     :(

Jist read it,its about your crooked union buddies


;) ;)

"Annan said to me, `If not for Richard Butler there would not have been an Iraq War'," Mr Downer said.

Mr Butler denied the claim.


and so the blame game goes on and on and on...

Hitler invaded several countries I dont ever remember him being tried for that!

and now the head of the UN is coming out and adding his blame.. wouldnt it be better if they spent their time and energy in resolving the conflict that is still on going in Iraq... where doesthe UN stand on it...is it civil war now... or attacks from outside?..someone is feeding this was thats for sure..

wouldnt it be a good idea if the UN did something to prevent that??? without weapons who knows what might happen.

Yes thank you for that, but the thread is about Mr Howard, and the illegal Iraq war.     :(      

wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 7:45am:

What has thay got to do with the illegal Iraq war?.     :(

I think its illegal to steal money form a widows fund as well isnt it?

He didnt "get it wrong" he lied

SOB

For crying out loud, the thread is about Mr Howard, and the illegal Iraq war.  But dont worry though, with a little bit of extra work, I am sure you will advance to grade 2, next year.    :(

wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 7:49am:

Yes thank you for that, but the thread is about Mr Howard, and the illegal Iraq war.     :(

Hey  crooked how come you don't comment on your crooked  union buddies  "hypocrite"

cods wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 7:49am:

wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 7:45am: What has thay got to do with the illegal Iraq war?.     :(    I think its illegal to steal money form a widows fund as well isnt it?

Would you complain if SOB or anyone started posting irrelivant Iraq war information on an AWU thread?

There are 20 Obede or ICAC topics where he could post this crap.

Dnarever wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 8:32am:

cods wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 7:49am: wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 7:45am: What has thay got to do with the illegal Iraq war?.     :(    I think its illegal to steal money form a widows fund as well isnt it? Would you complain if SOB or anyone started posting irrelivant Iraq war information on an AWU thread? There are 20 Obede or ICAC topics where he could post this crap.

No its par for the course   ;)

FRED. wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 8:35am:

Dnarever wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 8:32am: cods wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 7:49am: wrote on Mar 16th, 2013 at 7:45am: What has thay got to do with the illegal Iraq war?.      I think its illegal to steal money form a widows fund as well isnt it? Would you complain if SOB or anyone started posting irrelivant Iraq war information on an AWU thread? There are 20 Obede or ICAC topics where he could post this crap. No its par for the course

A quadruple bogey.

Just ignore the trolls.

The odds are wars like Iraq will happen again and Australians will die.

The Yanks can't stop wanting to be the world's policeman and a
Australia is joined to the US at the hip.

Vietnam and Iraq both showed how the Americans blunder into other countries with little knowledge of their history or people. In Iraq, as in Afghanistan, victory was a meaningless word, no-one seemed to know what winning actually looked like.

In the meantime soldiers are killed and civilians die.

wrote on Mar 16^th, 2013 at 7:40am:

IAN McPHEDRAN - DEFENCE WRITER     News Limited Network     March 16, 2013     Analysis: Ian McPhedran counts the cost of the Iraq War

I could have sworn I've seen the exact same article printed several times over the last 10 years or so.  Is this news to anyone?

Is there a point to this thread?

You don't think that Australia being an integral part of an illegal invasion by mistake is worth discussing and looking at the lies told by our leader of the time in the lead up to that event meant to justify the action.

I personally think that the least honest government this country ever had should be thoroughly examined.

We really do need to make sure that Australia is never part of such a disgraceful action again.

Hunderds of thousands of people died and it was Whoops we got that one wrong and mistakes were made? Not good enough by far.

It wasnt a mistake.

SOB